The time-dependent rearrangement of the epithelial basement membrane in human skin wounds

In 62 human skin wounds (surgical wounds, stab wounds and
lacerations after surgical treatment) we analyzed the
immunohistochemical localization of collagen IV in the epithelial
basement membrane. In 27 of these wounds the distribution of
collagen VII, which represents a specific component of the basement
membrane of stratified epithelia, was also analyzed. We were able
to demonstrate a virtually identical co-distribution of both
collagen IV and VII in the wound area with no significant
time-dependent differences in the appearance of both collagen
types. Fragments of the epithelial basement membrane could be
detected in the wound area from as early as 4 days after wounding
and after 8 days a complete restitution of the epithelial basement
membrane was observed. In all cases with a wound age of more than
21 days the basement membrane was completely reformed over the
former lesional area. The period between 8 and 21 days after
wounding was characterized by a wide variability ranging from
complete restitution to deposition of basement membrane fragments
or total lack of the epidermal basement membrane.